Poached: Out of favour winger Tom Kingston is leaving the Waratahs for the Melbourne Rebels next season. Photo: Getty Images

Kingston will be in Sydney after missing out on a spot in the matchday 22 for the fourth week in a row.

The deal is not surprising in light of the promising 21-year-old's fall from favour this season.

Widely expected to be one of the breakout stars of the Waratahs' talent-studded back line, Kingston has struggled to nail down a starting spot ahead of rivals Cam Crawford and Peter Betham.

He started the first two games of the season, against the Reds and Rebels, but managed just one more run-on appearance, during the Waratahs' loss to the Bulls in South Africa.

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Kingston's four other appearances were from the bench before he was relegated to Sydney club rugby, where he has played since the middle of this month.

Crawford and Betham have gained the ascendancy on the wings, Crawford this week dislodging Test veteran Drew Mitchell for a starting spot.

The Waratahs are hoping to rediscover the dominant form this week that earned them upset wins against the Brumbies, Stormers, Chiefs and Blues this season.

Captain Dave Dennis, who will play out of position at No.8 to cover for the loss of Wycliff Palu, said the team could break its nine-year Christchurch drought with the right "attitude".

"For some reason we've gone over there [in the past] doubting whether we could win. We haven't had a good history there and we've probably flown over there thinking it's not possible," Dennis said.

"But for the young group we've got there's no reason why we can't achieve something special there. This year we've got a bit more of that [belief] and the way we can potentially play, if we have the right attitude, can beat these guys. That's the biggest thing."

Attitude means dominance and accuracy in the Waratahs' lexicon. They nailed it in South Africa, despite losing to the Bulls, and clung on in Canberra. But it deserted the side in Melbourne and has all but cost NSW a long overdue finals berth.

"What we've tried to do this year is change bad habits of individuals and of the group, and the reality is it takes time and there's times where you go back to bad habits," Dennis said.

"I think last week was an example of that. It was a pretty intense five or six weeks, we had some tough games, we travelled a bit ... the focus and application of the boys was really good, and it wasn't so last week ... you can't have that drop-off."

The Waratahs' last encounter with the perennial late starters of the New Zealand conference was a 37-33 loss at Allianz Stadium.

Most of the names from that Crusaders back line are back this weekend, although Robbie Fruean, who scored two tries in last year's game, will start on the bench.

The favourites will also be boosted by the of hooker Corey Flynn, who was missing from the side that fell to the Chiefs last week.

After raising the hopes and interests of NSW supporters mid-season, the Waratahs know that hard work is on the line after their dispiriting loss to the Rebels.

In the hours after the 24-22 humbling, fullback Israel Folau said he was disappointed and "embarrassed" by the result. Folau deleted the Tweet shortly after but his sentiments echoed many of his teammates.

They atoned for their lapse in ferocious training sessions this week.

"We know as a group we can do it. If we can belt each other at training then there's definitely no reason we can't do it in a game," Dennis said. "It was great to see the boys turn up on Monday and get stuck in and realise what we did last week wasn't good enough."